Resilient gauging gate



Patented Aug. 10, 1948 RESILIENT (incantaem; 3 I Bhillips B. Drane andcram-ea D; Lainey,

Tulsa;- om. Application February, 13, mensemi "221,262

3 Claims. (01; 2 6 1.;

'lghe invention relates to gaging gates, particula r-152 adaptedfor usein conneqtien with oil storaeeitan s. and has for itsobie to provide adevice of this kind wherein centrally engaging sections are confinedwithin a casing, and the engaging surfaces adapted to conform to a plumbhob and line from which the bob is suspended when the bob is loweredinto the tank for measuring purposes, thereby preventing upward escapeof gas or vapors into the face of the operator, or from the tank, and atthe same time wiping the hob and line when they are removed from thetank.

A further object is to provide a age gate comprising segmentally shapedsections confined within a casing and the transverse horizontal portionsof said sections being bored inwardly into flat transverse engagementfor conforming to the shaft of the object passing therebetween.

Also to provide the upper and lower end of the segmental sections withreinforcing ribs, connected together at opposite sides of the sectionsby vertical engaging ribs for stiffening the resilient sections andpreventing upward and downward collapsin of the central portions of thesections when an article passes therebetween.

A further object is to provide upper and lower confining rings foranchoring the upper and lower ends of the segmental sections.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown inthe drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the resilient segmental sections.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through one of thesegmental sections.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the gate,showing segmental sections distorted, incident to the passage of a plumbbob.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the parts in normalposition.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates a look box with atransparent window (not shown), and 2 the top opening therein. Bolted tothe upper side of the look box I by means of bolts 3 is an upwardlyextending cylindrical casing 4, the upper end of which is open andprovided with a hinged closure 5, and interposed between .Z v closure 5and the upper end of the leis-7a It-.-w;ill= be noted that: the casingmisiafigfilhkk diameter, internally, than the opening 2,, to. form a,sheuldenon which the lower retaining,- ring li rests.

The retaining ring is provided with an upwardly extending annular flange8, received in a similarly shaped groove 9 in the under side of thereinforcing ribs IU of the resilient segmentally shaped sections ll,confined within the casing 4. The upper ends of the segmentally shapedsections II are similarly confined by an annular ring l2, which ringengages in an annular channel l3 of the upper reinforcing ribs 14.

The inner sides of the ribs I0 and I4 are held in fixed space relationby means of segmental members l5, clearly shown in Figure 4, and all ofthe parts are held in assembled relation within the casing 4 by a splitring l6, which ring is received in an internal channel I! in the innerperiphery of the casing 4.

It will be noted that opposite sides of the se mentally shaped sectionsII are bowed inwardly from opposite ends and decrease in thickness tothe relatively large engaging surface or areas I8, to stiffen the deviceagainst the upward and downward drag when the plumb bob l9 passestherebetween. However, these parts are further,

stiiiened by the vertical ribs 20, which connect the ribs HI and M atopposite sides of the sections. Segmental sections II are preferablyprovided with breather vents 2| for allowing ready expansion andcontraction of the sections at l8 when the device is in operation, asgas pressure from the tank will assist in forcing the thin portions ofthe resilient members at 18, into close engagement with each other andwith the plumb bob passing therebetween.

In assembling the device, the ring I is dropped downwardly into thecasing 4, and then the resilient segments are placed together as shownin Figure 1, with the segmental members [5 in place thereon, and theparts so assembled and placed in the casing 4. After the aboveoperation, the upper retaining ring I! is placed in position and thesplit ring I6 is then placed in the annular groove I1.

From the above it will be seen that a gage gate is provided which isformed from resilient material, and will collapse outwardly as a plumbbob or other gaging implement passes therethrough. It will also be seenthat the adjacent portions of the walls of the resilient segments willconform to the shape of the gaging implement, thereby preventing escapeof gas from the tank, or into the face of the operator, preventing vaporloss and pressure, and at the same time will wipe excess oil from theline and plumb bob, and will eliminate fire hazards from the gagingoperation.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and usefulis:

1. A gaging gate for tanks, said gate comprising a rigid asingsurroundinga tank opening, similarly shaped" reversibly positionedresilient members within said casing, the upper and lower ends of saidresilient members being anchored within the casing, the outer sides ofthe resilient' members being inwardly bowed to transverse-en gagementthereby closing the tank and allowing the passage of a gaging implementbetween the.

engagement surfaces of the resilient members horizontal reinforcin ribscarried by the-upper and lower ends of the resilient members thein-i nerends of the horizontal ribs bein connected together by verticalreinforcing ribs at opposite sides of the resilient members. a

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 including arcuate spacer memberswithin the rigid casing, said'spacer members being interposed betweenthe horizontal ribs and clamping meanswithin w p The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:-'

f or the spacer members.

PHILLIPS B. DRANE. CLARENCE D. LAIDLEY.

' REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 175,144Painter Mar. 21, 1876 568,669 Ellsworth Sept. 29; 1896 1,709,949Rassmussen et a1. Apr. 23, 1929 2,212,588 Csanyi Aug. 27, 1940

